HOSTILE MEASURES COMMENCED.
John Scott and his Movements.--Losses of the Dutch.--The
First General Assembly.--Action of the Home
Government.--Peace with the Indians.--Arrest of John
Scott.--Governor Winthrop's visit to Long Island.--Sailing
of the Fleet.--Preparations for War.--The False
Dispatches.--Arrival of the Fleet.--The Summons to
Surrender.
Governor Stuyvesant, with much anxiety of mind, kept a vigilant eye
upon the proceedings of John Scott, on Long Island. Some praised the
governor for the forbearance he had exhibited under the provoking
circumstances. Others severely blamed him for his course, which they
pronounced to be cowardly and disgraceful to the nation.
By the terms of the Convention, concluded between the Dutch delegates
and John Scott, it was agreed that the English villages, on the
western part of Long Island, should remain unmolested under English
rule, for the space of one year, until the king of England and the
States-General of Holland should have time to settle the question in
dispute. In the meantime the English were to have free access to all
the Dutch towns on the island, and on the mainland, for purposes of
trade; and the Dutch were to enjoy the same privilege in visiting the
English towns.
These terms were to be presented to Governor Stuyvesant for his
rejection or approval. Deciding to ratify them he took with him an
escort of ten men, and proceeded to Hempstead, on the third day of
March, 1664. Here he met the President, John Scott, with delegates
from the English towns, and the agreement was ratified.
The Dutch had now lost, one after another, every portion of territory
which the English had assailed. The whole valley of the Connecticut
river had been surrendered to the English. Westchester was entirely in
their possession. And now the important towns of Flushing, Jamaica,
Hempstead and Gravesend were yielded up to them. The whole of Long
Island was also peremptorily claimed by the English, with the
declaration that if any resistance were made to their taking
possession of it, they would seize the valley of the Hudson and the
whole of New Netherland.
The conjuncture was gloomy indeed. Governor Stuyvesant was conscious
that he was utterly powerless. He then decided it to be necessary to
call to his aid popular representation. A General Assembly of
delegates from all the towns was convoked to take into consideration
the state of the province. This important meeting was held in the City
Hall of New Amsterdam, on the 10th of April, 1664. Twenty-four
delegates were present from twelve towns.
Immediately there arose an unfriendly controversy between the governor
and the assembly which was fatal to any harmonious or efficient
action. The assembly refused to grant the governor the supplies, in
money or in men, which he called for, and adjourned for a week. In the
meantime Governor Stuyvesant had received dispatches from Holland. The
West India Company had acted energetically upon the subject urged in
his memorial. They had presented to the States-General a very earnest
petition.
In this memorial they laid before that August body, a detailed account
of the aggressions committed by the English, and of the repulse with
which the Dutch overtures for an amicable settlement had been met at
Boston and Hartford.
"Out of respect," said they,
"to the alliance recently entered into with England, they
had hitherto abstained from hostilities. But, as it now
seemed absolutely necessary to repel aggression by force,
they implored such military and pecuniary aid as the
occasion required. They also urged that, in conformity with
Governor Stuyvesant's request, an act should be passed under
the great seal, confirming their original charter; and that
letters might be sent to the revolted towns on Long Island,
requiring them, under the severest penalties, to return to
their allegiance. In conclusion they asked that the whole of
the aggressions of which they complained might be
communicated to the king of England, with the request that
he would order his English subjects to restore, on the
instant, the places they had seized, and to abstain from all
further innovations, pending the negotiations for a boundary
line."
These requests were complied with by the States-General. They sent
sixty soldiers to New Amsterdam, with orders to Governor Stuyvesant to
resist any further encroachments of the English, and to reduce the
revolted villages to allegiance. It was easy for the States-General to
issue such an order, but it was not so easy for Governor Stuyvesant to
execute it. The Assembly was immediately called together again, and
the documents from Holland presented to them. After much deliberation
it was decided to be impossible, with the force at the governor's
command, to subdue the English villages. In those villages it was said
that the Dutch were outnumbered six to one; and that upon the outbreak
of hostilities, the flourishing settlements on the Connecticut would
immediately send such a force to Long Island, as would enable them to
overcome and take possession of all the other villages.
It will be remembered that the Esopus Indians had been completely
humbled, and almost annihilated. The tribe living in the immediate
vicinity of the village of Esopus, had been slaughtered or driven from
their lands. The survivors had taken refuge with other neighboring
tribes, who were more or less in sympathy with them. Thus while there
was a cessation of actual war, hostility continued. No terms of peace
had been agreed to, and there could be no friendly intercourse.
News reached Governor Stuyvesant that the Connecticut people, in their
intrigues to get possession of New Netherland, were tampering with
these river Indians, endeavoring to enter into a treaty of alliance,
offensive and defensive with them. It was consequently deemed
desirable immediately to secure a general peace with these Indians.
The sachems of several tribes were invited to assemble in the Council
Chamber at fort Amsterdam. The governor with nine of his council, met
them. It is worthy of special notice that, the preliminaries being
settled, one of the Indian chiefs offered an earnest prayer. First he
called several times, with a loud voice, upon the Great Spirit to hear
him In his language Bachtamo was the name for God.
"Oh Bachtamo," he said,
"help us to make a good treaty with the Dutch. And may the
treaty we are about to negotiate be like the stick I hold in
my hand. Like this stick may it be firmly united, the one
end to the other."
Then turning to the governor, he said, "We all desire peace. I have
come with my brother sachems, in behalf of the Esopus Indians, to
conclude a peace as firm and compact as my arms, which I now fold
together."
Then presenting his hand to Governor Stuyvesant he added, "What I now
say is from the fullness of my heart. Such is my desire, and that of
all my people."
A solemn treaty was soon negotiated. It was signed the next day, and
the event was celebrated by salvos of artillery. On the whole, the
terms were fair, but rather hard for the Indians. The treaty is
concisely given by O'Callaghan in the following words:
"By its terms all that had passed was to be forever
forgotten and forgiven. The land, already given to the Dutch
as an indemnity, and now again conquered by the sword, the
two forts belonging to the Indians included, became the
property of the Christians. The savages were not to return
thither to plant, nor to visit the village, or any remote
Dutch settlements with or without arms. But as it was not
intended to expel them altogether from the country, they
were permitted to plant near their new fort, and this year
only, by their old castle, as they had already placed some
seed in the ground there. But the lands, in the neighborhood
of these forts, having been conquered, were to belong to the
Dutch.
"To prevent all future collision, no savage should hereafter
approach the place where the Christians were ploughing,
pasturing, sowing or engaged in agricultural labor. The
violation of this article was to subject them to arrest.
They might sell meat or maize at the Ronduit, in parties of
three canoes at a time, but only on condition that they sent
a flag of truce beforehand to give notice of their approach.
For their accommodation, on such occasions, a house was to
be built beyond the kill.
"Should a Dutchman kill an Indian, or an Indian a Dutchman,
no war was to be declared. A complaint was to be lodged
against the murderer, who should be hanged in the presence
of both the contracting parties. All damages, by the killing
of cattle, were to be paid for; and this treaty was to be
annually ratified by the Esopus Indians. The Hackingsack and
Staten Island sachems were security for the faithful
observance of this contract; and were bound to co-operate
against either the Esopus Indians or the Dutch, whichever
might violate its terms."
The peace thus secured gave universal satisfaction in the Dutch
settlements. Governor Stuyvesant devoutly proclaimed a day of general
thanks giving to God for the great blessing.
It will be remembered that John Scott had received a commission from
Connecticut, and it was expected that, as their agent, he would cause
the English towns on western Long Island to be annexed to the
Connecticut province. Instead of this, those towns declared themselves
independent, and Scott allowed himself to be chosen their president.
The Court at Hartford, upon being made acquainted with these facts,
was very indignant. A proclamation was soon issued by the Assembly of
Connecticut, charging Scott with various high crimes and misdemeanors,
and ordering his arrest. A party of soldiers was sent under the
command of John Allyn, secretary, "to seize on the body of John
Scott." Mr. Allyn returned to the Honorable Court the following
interesting report of his procedure on the occasion:
"When we came within sight of the house of John Scott we saw
him draw forth those men which came from New Haven to aid
him, with some others, unto a body. When we came up towards
the house, within twenty or thirty rods thereof. John Scott
commanded us, in his Majesty's name to stand, upon our
peril. John Scott charged us in his Majesty's name, to get
off from his land. John Scott desired to know what our
business was.
"Then it was replied, by Nathaniel Seely, that he desired a
parley. John Scott granted a parley, and we met, each of us
with a couple of musketeers. Then Nathaniel Seely told him
that he had come to arrest him, and read the commission unto
him. When it was read Seely demanded of him whether he would
surrender himself according to commission?
"John Scott replied that he would sacrifice his heart's
blood on the ground, before he would yield to him or any of
Connecticut jurisdiction. With that the New Haven men
answered, 'So will we.' John Scott said, 'Stay awhile and I
will fetch you a letter, from under Governor Winthrop's
hand, which I do not question much will satisfy you.' So he
went into the house and fetched it forth and read it before
us, bearing date as he said, of March 25, 1664.
"It was concerning the governor's desiring him to meet him
to end some difference in the Narragansett country about a
tract of land. John Scott said, 'If you will return to your
body, I will fetch a commission under his Majesty's hand,
which shall command you all.' Whereupon he made a flourish
and said that he would go down unto the face of the company
and read it, and he would see if the proudest of them all
dared to lay hands upon him. 'Let them,' said he, 'take me
if they dare.'
"Then he came down to the head of the company, and read the
commission, which he said had the seal manual upon it.
Whereupon he renewed his challenge that he would see if the
proudest of them all dared to lay hands upon him. Then
Nathaniel Seely arrested him in his Majesty's name to go
with him according to law."
Scott was taken to Hartford and thrown into jail, where, it is said,
he experienced much harsh usage. Soon after this Governor John
Winthrop, from Hartford, visited the English Long Island towns,
removed the officers appointed by Scott, and installed others who
would be devoted to the interests of Connecticut.
Governor Stuyvesant being informed of his presence, immediately
crossed the East river to Long Island, to meet the Connecticut
governor, who was thus encroaching upon the Dutch domains. He urged
upon Governor Winthrop the claims of Holland upon New Netherland, by
the apparently indubitable title of discovery, purchase and
possession, as well as by the clearly defined obligations of the
Hartford treaty of 1650. It will be remembered that by that treaty it
was expressly agreed that,
"Upon Long Island a line run from the westernmost part of
Oyster Bay, in a straight and direct line to the sea, shall
be the bounds between the English and the Dutch there; the
easterly part to belong to the English, the westernmost part
to the Dutch."
But here was Governor Winthrop, in total disregard of this treaty,
many miles west of this line, endeavoring to wrest several towns from
the Dutch dominion, and to annex them to the Connecticut colony. All
Governor Stuyvesant's arguments were unavailing. Governor Winthrop
paid no heed to them. He knew very well that the Dutch governor had no
military power with which to enforce his claims. Governor Winthrop
therefore contented himself with simply declaring that the whole of
Long Island belonged to the king of England.
"All Governor Stuyvesant could address, writes O'Callaghan,
"was of no avail. The country was the king's, the people his
subjects. When priority of title from the Indians was
invoked, those from whom the Dutch purchased were, it was
replied, not the right owners and had no right to sell. But
when deeds which the English held from natives, happened to
be older than those of their opponents, then the title could
not be gainsayed. All must be received without
contradiction.
"The truth is, the Directors in Holland were mistaken in
their reliance upon Winthrop's friendship. He now manifested
the greatest hostility to the Dutch, and was the head and
front of all the opposition they experienced. He was no
doubt well-advised of the designs of the Duke of York, and
of his brother the king of England, which were about to
develop themselves against this province."
While New Netherland was thus fearfully menaced by England, the
internal affairs of the province were in a state of prosperity. The
rich soil was producing abundant harvests and farms were extending in
all directions. Emigrants were continually arriving and were delighted
with their new homes. The population of the province now amounted to
full ten thousand. New Amsterdam was a flourishing city, containing
fifteen hundred inhabitants.
This prosperity excited both the jealousy and the covetousness of the
British court. The king resolved, by one bold blow, to rob Holland of
all her American possessions. On the 12th of March, 1664, the king of
England granted to his brother James, the Duke of York, the whole of
Long Island, all the islands in its neighborhood, and all the lands
and rivers from the west side of Connecticut river to the east side of
Delaware Bay. This sweeping grant included the whole of New
Netherland. This was emphatically expelling the Dutch from the New
World.
The first intimation Governor Stuyvesant received of this alarming
movement came to him from Boston. A young man, named Ford, brought the
tidings to New Amsterdam that a fleet of armed ships had sailed from
the naval depot in Portsmouth, England, to enter the Hudson river and
take possession of the whole territory. This intelligence created not
a little panic. The governor summoned his council, and it was decided
to exert every energy in fortifying the city. The hostile fleet might
make its appearance any day.
Money was raised. Powder was ordered from the forts on the Delaware.
Agents were sent to New Haven to purchase provisions. As it was
expected that the fleet would come through the Sound, agents were
stationed along the shore, to transmit the tidings of its approach, so
soon as the sails should be seen in the distant horizon. Several
vessels on the point of sailing with supplies to Curaçoa were
detained.
So secretly had the British government moved in this enterprise, that
the governmental authorities, in Holland, had not the slightest
suspicion of the peril to which their colony in New Netherland was
exposed. At the moment when all was agitation in New Amsterdam, and
every hand was busy preparing for the defence, Governor Stuyvesant
received dispatches from Holland, assuring him that no apprehension of
danger from England need be entertained.
"The king of England," it was said,
"is only desirous of reducing his colonies to uniformity in
Church and State. With this view he has dispatched some
commissioners with two or three frigates, to New England, to
introduce Episcopacy in that quarter."
It was supposed in Holland, that this intolerant policy would
strengthen the Dutch interests in America; that the religious freedom,
which the States-General insisted upon, would invite to New Netherland
from all the countries of Europe, those who were not willing to
conform to the doctrines and ritual of the Church of England.
Governor Stuyvesant, upon receiving these dispatches from the home
government, felt relieved of all anxiety. He had no doubt that the
previous rumor which had reached him was false. Neither he nor his
council anticipated any difficulty. The whole community indulged in
the sense of security. The work on the fortifications was stopped; the
vessels sailed to Curaçoa, and the governor went up the river to fort
Orange. A desolating war had broken out between the Indian tribes
there, which raged with such ferocity that the colonists were full of
alarm for their own lives and property.
But the English fleet was rapidly approaching. It consisted of four
frigates, containing in all an armament of ninety-four guns. This was
a force to which defenceless New Amsterdam could present no
resistance.
The fleet put into Boston the latter part of July, and the
commissioners applied to both Massachusetts and Connecticut for aid in
their military expedition against the Dutch. But the Puritans of
Massachusetts found innumerable obstacles in the way of rendering any
assistance. They feared that the king of England, having reduced the
Dutch, would be induced to extend his arbitrary sway, both civil and
religious, over those colonists who were exiles from their native
land, simply that they might enjoy freedom to worship God.
Connecticut, however, hoped that the conquest of New Netherland might
annex the magnificent domain to their own region. Governor Winthrop,
of Hartford, manifested so much alacrity in the cause, that he was
invited to meet the British squadron, at the west end of Long Island,
to which point it would sail with the first fair wind.
Colonel Richard Nicholls was in command of the expedition. Three
commissioners were associated with him. They had received instructions
to visit the several New England colonies, and to require them, "to
join and assist vigorously in reducing the Dutch to subjection." The
Duke of York, soon after the departure of the squadron, conveyed to
Lord Berkeley and Sir George Carteret all the territory between the
Hudson and Delaware rivers, from Cape May north to forty-one degrees
and forty minutes of latitude, "hereafter to be called Nova Cæsarea or
New Jersey."
A friend of Governor Stuyvesant, in Boston, sent word to New Amsterdam
of the arrival of the fleet and its destination. An express was
instantly dispatched to Albany to recall the Governor. He hurried back
to the capitol, much chagrined by the thought that he had lost three
weeks. Every able-bodied man was immediately summoned to work at the
city defences, "with spade, shovel and wheelbarrow." This working
party was divided into three classes, one of which was to labor every
day. A permanent guard was organized. The brewers were forbidden to
malt any more grain, that it all might be reserved for food. Six
pieces of cannon were added to the fourteen already mounted. The
garrison at Esopus was summoned to the defence.
About the 20th of August, the English squadron anchored in Nyack Bay,
just below the Narrows, between New Utrecht and Coney Island. A strict
blockade of the river was established. All communication between Long
Island and Manhattan was cut off. Several vessels were captured. Upon
Staten Island, about three miles from where the frigates rode at
anchor, there was a small fort, a block-house, about twenty feet
square. It had been constructed for defence against the savages. For
its armament it had two small guns, carrying one pound balls, and a
garrison of six old invalid soldiers. A party was sent on shore, in
the boats, which captured the fort and also a lot of cattle.
The next morning, which was Saturday, Colonel Nicholls sent a
delegation of four men up to fort Amsterdam, with a summons for the
surrender of "the town situated on the island commonly known by the
name of Manhattoes, with all the forts thereunto belonging." At the
same time proclamations were scattered abroad, forbidding the farmers
from furnishing any supplies to the Dutch garrison, under penalty of
having their houses fired. All the inhabitants of the surrounding
villages, who would quietly submit to his Britannic Majesty, were
promised the safe possession of their property. Those who should
otherwise demean themselves were threatened with all the miseries of
war.
Governor Stuyvesant had but one hundred soldiers in garrison. He could
not place much reliance upon the aid of undisciplined citizens. Still
his brave spirit was disposed to present a desperate resistance. He
called his council together, but was unwilling to have the people know
the nature of the summons, lest they should clamor for a surrender.
But the citizens held a meeting, voted in favor of non-resistance, and
demanded an authentic copy of the communication, which had been
received from the commander of the English fleet. They adjourned to
meet on Monday morning to receive the reply. Governor Stuyvesant was
greatly distressed. After the Sabbath he went to the meeting in
person, and endeavored to convince those present of the impropriety of
their demands. But the citizens, trembling in view of the bombardment
of the town, were in no mood to listen to his persuasions.
It was not needful for the English to be in any hurry. The prey was
entirely within their grasp. It will be remembered that Governor
Winthrop of Hartford, had joined the expedition. Colonel Nicholls
addressed a letter to Governor Winthrop, requesting him to visit the
city under a flag of truce, and communicate the contents to Governor
Stuyvesant. The Dutch governor came out of the fort to receive the
letter, and then returned into the fort to read it. The following was
the letter:
"Mr. Winthrop:--
"As to those particulars you spoke to me, I do assure you that if the
Manhadoes be delivered up to his Majesty, I shall not hinder but any
people from the Netherlands may freely come and plant there or
thereabouts. And such vessels of their own country, may freely come
thither. And any of them may as freely return home, in vessels of
their own country; and this and much more is contained in the
privilege of his Majesty's English subjects. This much you may, by
what means you please, assure the governor from, Sir, your
affectionate servant,
"Richard Nicholls.
"August 22, 1664. O.S."
The Council demanded that this letter should be exhibited to the
people. The governor refused, saying that it would be quite
unfavorable to the defence to communicate such intelligence to the
inhabitants. As the council persisted, the governor, in a passion,
tore up the letter and trampled it beneath, his feet. The rumor spread
rapidly that a flag of truce had come.
The citizens collected in a large and excited gathering, and sent a
delegation of three persons to demand of the governor the
communication which he had received from the hostile fleet. Threats
were uttered. Curses were heard. Resistance was declared to be
madness. The universal voice clamored for the letter. The community
was upon the eve of mutiny.
At length Stuyvesant yielded. A copy of the letter was made out from
the fragments, and it was read to the people. This increased their
disposition to capitulate. Still the indomitable governor could not
endure the thought of surrendering the majestic province of New
Netherland to a force of four frigates. He regarded the movement, on
the part of the English, as an atrocious act of highway robbery. But
he was well aware that there was no escape from the sacrifice.
In the night he sent a vessel, "silently through Hell Gate," to the
Directors in Holland, with the following laconic dispatch. "Long
Island is gone and lost. The capitol cannot hold out long." When a
man's heart is broken his words are few.
Much of the night the governor spent in drawing up a strong
remonstrance, in answer to the message of Colonel Nicholls. All the
argument was with the Dutch. All the force was with the English. But
when argument and force come into collision in this wicked world,
argument must generally yield.
In the very able manifesto of the governor, he traced the history of
the country from the earliest period to the present time. He deduced
the title of the Dutch, to the territory, from the three great
principles of Discovery, Settlement, and Purchase from the Indians. He
severely denounced the pretence, now put forth by the English, that
his, "Britannic Majesty had an indisputable right to all the lands in
the north parts of America." Courteously he added that he was
confident that if his Majesty had been well informed in the premises,
his high sense of justice would have dissuaded him from authorizing
the present hostile demonstration. In conclusion he said,
"In case you will act by force of arms, we protest before
God and man, that you will perform an act of unjust
violence. You will violate the articles of peace solemnly
ratified by his Majesty of England, and my Lords the
States-General. Again for the prevention of the spilling of
innocent blood, not only here but in Europe, we offer you a
treaty by our deputies. As regards your threats we have no
answer to make, only that we fear nothing but what God may
lay upon us. All things are at His disposal, and we can be
preserved by Him with small forces as well as by a great
army."